The chief executive of Cooperative Bank has come out in favour of proposed debt to income lending restrictions saying they would have a massive impact on the Auckland market but would do a better job of catching investors than current loan to value ratios.

Dairy prices continued to firm at the latest GlobalDairyTrade auction, with the GDT price index gaining 3.8 per cent driven mostly by a big gain in whole milk powder prices.

After their last defeat Labour said they would go back to the drawing board. They haven't learnt a thing. They're seemingly incapable of making the necessary changes to come out on top.

World dairy production is slowing, which should push up prices in 2017, rural lending specialist Rabobank said in its quarterly outlook.

"Pleasant surprise" at global dairy auction.

The Greens are arguing that our banks are some of the most profitable in the world and they're right. When we do well, business does well and that includes the banks.

Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen said Tuesday that the Fed still envisions a gradual pace of interest rate increases in light of global pressures that could weigh on the U.S. economy.

The economy grew faster than expected in the December quarter but economists remained unimpressed.

The NZX is back at record highs and Wall Street is on the rise. So what happened to the big January panic which had US commentators warning of bear markets and new recessions? Why have things stabilised so fast?

Dairy is expected pick up again later this year and into next. It's not all doom and gloom though—where dairy struggles, others will prosper.

World dairy prices went against market expectations and fell 2.9 per cent decline at the latest GlobalDairyTrade auction.

Futures market pricing suggests tomorrow morning's GlobalDairyTrade auction will be flat to slightly better.

Sharemilkers and young people are leaving the industry as pay opportunities worsen.

Fonterra says it remains financially sound, despite high debt levels.

A rising Hawke's Bay housing market, following Auckland into record price levels, does not mean Hawke's Bay is returning to its historic pattern of following the Auckland market, says economist Shamubeel Eaqub.

Rise of 1.4 per cent ends a four-sale losing streak.

Modest 1.4 per cent gain an end to four-sale losing streak.

Population growth, construction and tourism offset declines in NZ dairy prices.

Zero hour contracts strike me as go nowhere fast conditions that run the risk of easy exploitation, Mike argues.

Thank heavens for the rain. The warm, wet summer has been fantastic for growing grass, and our farmers needed that.

Mike Hosking says regional New Zealand is critical to our country's prosperity, but at what cost? If the only way we can get people to work in these areas is wage subsidies, we're on a very slippery slope.

House prices rising and no recovery in dairy prices both pose threats to New Zealand banks, Standard & Poor says.

There remain too many people in this country - and the Labour Party joined the ranks the other week - in thinking that everything should be free.

Westpac is forecasting a Fonterra farmgate milk price of $4 this season and $4.60 in 2016/17.

Mike Hosking says European bank stocks are taking a pounding at the moment, over fears we may be heading for a Lehman Brothers Part II.

Fonterra's latest farmgate milk price forecast is already under downward pressure after dairy prices fell for the third time in a row at this morning's GlobalDairyTrade auction.

Dairy Farms NZ - likely to list on the NZ stock exchange, has been given permission to buy up South Island farms.